Machine for opening cans



G. A. STOKES 11. MENIST.y

MACHINE FOR .OPENING CANS. y APPLrcAIloN FILED M1526, 1916` RENEwED MAR. 8.1918.

1,262,994m Patented Apr.16,1918. I

.14% %1ETS-sum1.

G. A. STOKES L 1. MENIST.

MACHINE FOR OPENING CANS.

APPLICATIONv FILED JUNE 26. 191s. nENEwED MAR. 8. i919.

1,262,994. Patented Apr.16,1918.

G. A. STOKES & 1 MENIST.

MACHINE FOR OPENING CANS.

APPLICATION FILED IuNEze. I9I6. IIENEwED MAII. 8. 1918.

1.262,994. Patented Alm-16,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@may Jaco M6067."

G. A. SOKES 6L 1. MENIST.

MACHINE FOR OPENING CANS.

APPucATloN m2o JUNI-:26. 1916. RENEWED MAR. 8. 191s.

1,262,994. V l Patented Apr. 16, 1918.l

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

15. z'gff.

S Z Y q... Geo7yeA.Sto7r/es f7 .1a/C0 Mania UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.: v

GEORGE A. s'rOxEs, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND JACOB MENIs'r, OE MATAWAN, NEW

JEnsEY, AssIeNons OF ONE-THIRD 'ro EDWIN n. HENDERSON, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAHINEI EOE OPENING cANs' Specification Of Letters Patent. Patented A'pl" A16, 1918n Application mea June as, 1916, serial Nn. 105,851. Renewed March s, 191s. 'serial No'. 221,329.

' To all whom z' may concernl Be it known that we, GEORGEIA. STORESv land JACOB MENIsT, citizens of .the United States, 'residing inthe city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and

State of New York, and Matawan, county of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, re.- spectively, have invented a certainnew and useful Machine for Opening Cans, of which the'following is a specification. y

Thisinvention' is a machine for Opening cans, and the object'of the inventionv is to provide a 'machine of this class,y which is adaptedto expeditiously cut out the tops of cans of varying helghts and dlameters in a simple and ecient manner, a'nd without Vnecessitating undue work on the part of the operator. Y

The machine of thisinvention embodies many features of novelty, al1 of which cop- "erate to expedite the work to be done, and

among which may be briefly enumerated, first, mechanism operable' from a single shaft for clamping a can in place, posltion.-

ing a cutter in cooperative relation thereto,

and then rotating the can for the purpose of cutting out the top and simultaneously turning in the edges adjacent the cut-out; second, a cutter-head which is automatically operable to engage with the can for holding it in place during the cutting operation; third, means for automatically positioning the cutter with respect to various sizes of cans; fourth, a particular form of cutter mounting, by virtue of which the cutter is slowly forced into the can without the quick application of force heretofore necessary, which arrangement lengthens the life of the cutter in that breakage or dulling of the cutter is not so apt to occur; fifth, an improved means for gripping the bottom of the can, said means being so Vconstituted that combined lever and cam actions coperate to, grip the can much tighter than was heretofore possible, and, sixth, means whereby the portion of the can-which is cut ont is gripped andl automatically removed fromf the can subsequently to the cutting-out opel ation, so lthat the cut-.Out portlons of the cans cannot fall into the lcontents 'Offsaid cans 'subsequently to the cutting operation,

but are automatically. removed from their initial position to a position wherein they will be free from-engagement with the cans.

-companying drawings.

Features and objectsv of 'the invention,"

other than those specied, as well as the ad- -vantages Aflowing therefrom, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the ac- In the accompanying ofthe invention, but the constructionsY shown thereln are to be 'understood as illustrative,

only, and not Yas defining the limits of the plane of the line 2-2 OfFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar section takenin the plane of the line 3-4-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section -`on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a Vview` looking 'from the front of the machine rearwardly, with certain drawings we have illustrated different practical embodiments parts broken away to clearly show the mechanism for operating the cutter-head -andass'ociated mechanisms.

Fig.. 6 is a. section on line 6-6 of' 1.

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of

the cutter and the guide for properly positloning said cutter relative'to a' can.' Fig. 8 i s a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 1s a plan view of a'modified form of cutter-head and its associated mechanisms. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and l2 are sections taken on the lines' 11-11 and 12-12, respectively, of Fig.l 10.

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Fig. 11, and Fig.. 14 is a section on vline v11i-let of Fig. 12. v

Referring to the drawings, and more partlcularly to Figs. 1 to 8,.inclusive,'A designates a bed-platel adapted to be'secured in any sultable'manner to any convenient fixed support B. `Bed-plate- A is 'provided with 'D tobe opened are adapted to be positioned.

Stem c is normally precluded from disengagementfwith its bearing by a set screwo las 40. collectively form, intermediate of their which threads through the boss and en-` gages with a circumferential channel formed in stemA o. Table C is not seated directly upon the top of boss a, .but its stem is stepped down, as shown in Fig. 1, rso that one of the steps c2 may serve as a bearing for rotatably mountingr an operating plate E intermediate the lower face of table C and the top of boss a. To the under side of operating plate E is aiiixed a bevel gear e, with which coperates a second bevel gear e fixed on shaft e2. Shaft c2 is journaled at its inner end in boss a, and near its outer en d in a pillow-block e3. A collar e4 normally precludeslongitudinal movement ofthe shaft, and to the outer end of said shaft is fixed a handle-carrying crank Ef, by means of which the operating plate may be rotated. To steady'the operations ofsaid plate, and

. to relieve stem c of excess strain, two rollers f are provided, which are positioned on upstanding'tingers formed integral with bedplate A, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These rollers f are so associated with oper-y ating plate E that they rest against the un` der surface thereof and preclude wabbling` of the plate on its pivot.

lt will be manifest that, in the structure described, both table C'and plate E, which operates said table in a manner hereinafter to be described, are rotatable ona common pivot through the medium of the crank E and the intermeshing bevel gears c and e; The parts are precluded from vdisengagement from one another by the set screw c.

' Formed upon the upper face of operating plate E, as shown more particularly inFig. 3, is a plurality bf upstanding walls g, which are so shaped and proportioned that they edges, a plurality of volute passages or chan nels g g2 and g3. The-volute channelsI speciiied are not in the form of one continuous l ally mounted on the pivot pins h4, h5 and k",

respectively, to the under side of table C, as

I clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

rlhe association-of the parts is such that f there are two trunnions on each elbow lever,

and each trunnionl operates in a different volute passage from the other trunnion of the same elbow lever. For example, the two trunnions 'and j which are associated with the elbow lever h', are so positioned that the trunnion y' is adapted for cooperation with the volute assage g', while trunnion y" is positioned or cooperation with the volute passage g2. ln like manner, the other two elbow levers are each provided with two similar trunnions, which operate in a like manner'in di'erent passages. All o the trun- Lacasse .nions j, j', etc., depend upon their" respective elbow levers, but each lever is, in addition,y provided with anupwardlyextending post Y jz, which passes 'through a volute-Shaped slot f in table C' and carries at its upper end a 7o.- clamping .jaw J. 'llhere are three such slots;

l the. S1013 k', being associated with post jzfof elbow lever L, slot 762 corresponding` to the trunnions of the lever h3. The relationship between the levers and the respective slots is 75 -illustrated best in Fig. 3, wherein the con- 1 while crank E is operated to rotate the operating plate, the trunnions of the respective elbow levers are caused to-travel along the volute passages of the operating-plate, with the result that they areV oscillated on their pivotal connection with table C and 9 clamping jaws J forced toward the center of the-table, as will be clearly understood. The function of this operation is to cause 'clamping jaws J to engage with, land"l f tightly clamp in position, the can D adapted 9.5 to be secured in place o n said table. lt will be noted, moreover, that, because of the fact that twol trunnions are simultaneously cooperating with two different volute passages, there will 'be a double cam action upon each 10o elbow lever, which results in a more secure` gripping action on the can than would be ppssibleif only one trunnion were employed.

oreover, in the employment of two trunnions, the strain on the parts is distributed, so that no particular part is called upon to bear an excess strain during the grippin operation on the can. s

lt has been stated that, the rotation of operating plate E, while table C is maintained 11o stationary, will produce the gripping eect, and, in like manner, it will be obvious that,

if table C is rotated, while the operatingl plate is stationary, the same eect will result. However, table C and its operating plate E will cease to be relatively movable as soon as the clamping jaws are in tight engagement with the can, so that further rotation of crank E will serve to bodily rotate both parts in synchronism and also to rotate 12o the can secured in place thereon. rllhe rotation of the can is the initialresult desired through the operation` of` these parts, it being the object of this invention to rotate the can while the same is positioned in copera- 12a tive relation with a practically stationary cutter.

Mounted on the rear portion of bed-plate A is an upstanding standard L, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is preferably of T- 13o 5. The lower end of twist-shaft M is cylindrical in shape, and carries a pinion lm,

on bed-plate A and serves as a bearing for the lower end of the shaft. Positioned a short distance above pinion m is -a fixed collar m', and intermediate said collar and pinion m extends a tension spring m2. Spring m2 is coiled around shaft M and serves as a friction clutch for normally frictionally maintaining." pinion m for rotation with shaft M-, in order that said shaft may be rotated through the pinion. This rotationv is imwhich, as shown in Figs. 1 and.3, is circumferentially toothed to mesh with'pinion m.

when the operating plate is rotated, such rotation results in the rotary movementV of twist-shaft -M', which raises or lowers the tion of rotation of said plate. Assuming, -.-therefore, that cutter-head M is inthe position shown in Fig. 1, and crank E is operated to rotate operating plate E in a.direc tion to clamp the can D, suchl rotation of said plate will, through twist-shaft M and its operating connections, lower the cutterhead until such time as two radially extending arms m3, mounted thereon, come into engagement with the top of the can. The can -will preclude further lowering action of the cutter-head, and, as the operation of crank E is continued, the friction clutch mechanism, embodying collar m and spring 'm2, will allow pinion m to rotate idly on twistshaft M. There will, however, be considerable downward pressure on the cutter-head to Voppose the friction of the clutch, and, accordingly, the can will be tightly pressed down upon table C, as well as securely gripped at its -bottom by the clamping memibers J, as hereinbefore described. A

This invention contemplates two methods of positioning a cutter 'so as to operate upon a can while the same is rotated in the manner speciiied.-A In the 'first method shown in Figs. l1 to 8, inclusive, the positioning of the 'cutter is entirely automatic, whereas', inlthe modied form shown in Figs. 9 to 14, in-

elusive, the positioning of the cutter is, to aV large extent, manual. The preferred method shown in the first-mentioned figures will next be described.

Mounted on the opposite side of standard l L from twist-shaft M', is an upstanding shaft N preferably" of polygonal cross-secloosely mounted on the shaft and seated on a laterally extending arm a2 which is formed From the foregoing, it will be manifest that,

' cutter-head M in accordance with the direc-4 A soV tion, the ilower end of which" is provided with clutch mechanism identical with -the clutch mechanism at the lowerI end of twistshaft M', for the purpose of frictionally locking a pinion n tothe lower end of shaft N 1n the same manner as pinion m is friction- 'ally-clutched to twist-shaft vM. Pinion n also meshes with the circumferential teeth of operating plate E, all as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, so that, when said'. plate is rotated, similar movement is impartedA to shaft n. The rotary i movement of the .shaft is limited, however, by a limiting member N, shown best in Figs, 1 and 2.

Member N embodies a guide rod n mounted for sliding movement through standard L and a rack n2, similarly mounted ina laterally, extending bracket .-fna formed on the standard, and the inner ends of rod n and rack n2 are connected by a shoe n4 adapted to en a e with the eri her. of a can th parted directly from operating plate E,. g g 'p p y m e manner shown in Figs. l and 2. A gear nf is fixed on shaft N and seated on the upper face of bracket n3, Vwhich gear operates rack n2 through an intermediate idler a, mounted on the bracket, as shown in Fig. 2.

Thus, when operating plate E is rotated, shaft N is similarly actuated to move the limiting member N into its extended position shown in Fig. 2, to such extent that the shoe ln,4 at its forward end will engage with the can.- When this engagement has taken place, further movement of the limiting memberis precluded,l and the clutch mecha-- nism between shaft N and the operating platev slips' so as to allow of the idle rotation of pinion n, while shaft N remains stationary.

Extending forwardly beneath cutter-head M, and xed at its opposite ends 'in said head, 105 is a rock-shaft o, on which is mounted a ear- 'rier o', which supports a cutter, and an ad;

jacent guide member O. A s shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, carrier o is slidably mounted on rock-shaft o, but is precluded 11 from pivotal movement relative thereto by a feather and slot connection, so that, when rock-shaft o is oscillated, the carrier and' its associated parts are simultaneously rocked therewith. However, the carrier is freely 115 slidable longitudinally of the rock-shaft,

such longitudinal movement being imparted thereto by a rack P connected, through an idler p, with a gear p fixed on'shaft N, ysee Figs. 5 andv 6.v The forward end of the 120.

v The relation ofthe carrier to the remaining parts of the machine is such that the guide O is at all times in substantially vertical alinement with the can-engaging face .en Lacasse of shoe n4 of limiting member N, and, as these parts move in synchronism, being operated from a common shaft N the movementof the' shoe into a position to engage 5 with the can near its bottom will cause a simultaneous movement of the carrier o to a.y position wherein its -guide member O will engage with Athe, circumferencevof the can at its top. Cutter 0- is fixed on the carrier adjacent guide member O and inl such position that, when the guide member is in engagement with the periphery vof the can, the cutter will be in engagement with the top of l said can just inwardly of the peripheral bead thereof. As all ofthe parts described are operated from the common crank E it is manifest that the foregoing operations will be simultaneous, z. e., the can will be ripped at its bottom, the limiting member will i be'thrust forward to engage with the circumference of the can, and will cease its movement upon such engagement, -thereby positioning the associated movable carrier o in such relation to the can that, when cutter-head'M is depressed, guide member 0 will come into engagement with the periphery of the can at its top, whileI cutter O will engage with that portion of the top imme diately interior ofl the peripheral bead.

. e0 When the cutter is in this position, it is only necessary to force the cutter into the cover of the can to cause the cutting operation to take place upon the rotation of the can, a hereinbefore described. y 335 lin can opening machines as heretofore constructed, the cutters have alwaysbeen forced, with a quick forward action, through the wall of the can, and this frequentlyvoca casions breakage of the cuttery and inter` e@ feres with proper alinement thereof forthe subsequent cutting operation. noted, however, that the cutter of this invention is not forced downwardly into the can upon the depression of the cutter-head, a5 but entersthe can in a deliberate manner which will not distort the cutter or cause breakage."

acter of rock-shaft o. its normal position, in which it is held by a spring-actuated arm q (see Fig. 5), is such as to position the parts as shown in Fig. 8, with guide member 0 substantially vertical, but with cutter C) extending in angular direction, op- 55 posed to the direction of rotation of the can during the cutting operation. rl`he parts are in the position shown in Fig.A 8, with the cutter-head lowered upon the can, and, when the cutter-headcomes to its lowermost tu position, the lower end of cutter 0 does not enter the top of the can (whichis shown 'indotted lines in Fig. 8), but simply rests lightly upon the upper face thereof in the position shown in full lines in said figure.

et However, when the can is rotated as herein It will be rlhe means for accomplishing 'g l this end is inchoatein the oscillatory charbefore described, the top of the can willbe caused to'travel-against the point of the cutter, with the result that said cutter becomes wedged against the can top and, as the rotation continues, is\forced through the 70 wall of the can and partakes.v of the dotted\-- line position of Fig. 8. During this operation, rock-shaft o is oscillated, i. e., is carried around by the forward movement of the cutter, until its spring-controlled arm Q engages with a stop g', (see Fig. 5) ,at which time further rotation of the rock-shaft precluded. At this time, cutter 0 vwill have assumed the position shown i-n dotted lines in Fig. 8, wherein it will be substantially upstanding relative to the top of the can, and is in suchV position as to. operate with greatest eiiciency during the cutting' operation.

Guide member ,0Xl thus positions the jcutter for operation and maintains it in its operative position during the cutting operation. llt is, however, well understood that the peripheral flanges of -cans vary with cans of different sizes, and it is,.accordingly,

desirable to' provider means whereby the relation between guide member @and the can may be varied. This means is clearly shown in Fig. 7 wherein guide member O is shown as provided with a stem o3 which 95 is formed off-center on said member and is adapted to seat-in a recess in carrier o. lt will be manifest that the manual rotation of guide member 0 will position its adjaf cent edge nearer or farther 'from the cutter, 100 in accordance with the eccentric movement of said member about its stem. rlhe relation between the parts may thus be readily brought about, and said guide may be locked in any position'by means of a set`105 screw 04, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

lt will,- of course, be understood that, after the positioning of the can in place and" the impressing of the cutter into the can, A said can is given at leastone complete rota-V 1 10 tion, so as to cut the cover ofcthe can entirely free from the sides thereof.` Moreover, during the cutting operation,the cut. ter is maintained in close proximity to`the peripheral bead ofthe can, with the result that the edge of the cut-away portion. is rolled into the can, and no sharp edges are produced which mightcut the hands of the.

voperator during the subsequent emptying operation. i `11.20

The `foregoing mechanisms may be operated as a complete machine, but it is desirable to provide means for removing the cover after the same has been cutout, so

that it willA` not fall into the can and pollute l the contents thereof, or be rendered inaccessible for withdrawal. .This means may partake of various'forms, two of which are shown in thel drawings. rl`heY preferred form isshown in. Figs. l and 4c, wherein 130 Lasagnav end, with'a vertically slidable plunger R,l to the lower end of which is secured a suction cup R, and'around which plunger` is coiled a .spring r, Whose function is. to .n.orinally elevate the plunger vinto'the position shown in Fig. Ll.4 The positionof plunger R on cutter-head M is such that it` will be in substantially vertical alinement with the i' to the top of plunger` R to force suction cup R tightly down upon the top of the' can. During this operation, the air is exin tight engagement with the top of the can. This operation is accomplished prior to the cutting operation, and, as the cutting oper' ation is carried on, the suction cup remains in engagement with the top of the can, plunger R freely rotating in its bearings during said operation. As soon, however, as one complete revolution in the cutting operation is completed, and the top ofr the can disconnected from the sides thereof, spring r immediately elevatesr the plunger and lifts .the cut-out portion ofthe cover free from engagement with the can. can may then be removed from table C by reversing the rotation of crank E', as will be well understood,'and the portion of the cover held in the In Figs. -12 and .14, a modiiied form f of cover-removing means is shown, this form flipper Vportion of said stem is threaded'a knob S.

The lower end of sleeve -s 1s flanged outwardly to form an interior frustoconical portion, .withwhich engages the upper ends of two impaling members s piv oted to a cross-head on the lower end of the stem.- A spring s2. normally elevates sleeve s. When the cutter-head is in operative position, a quick, downward impulse upon knob S will force the impaling members s tation of knob S will depress sleeve s and force the lower, frusto-conical portion thereof downwardly against the tapered, up- Wardly extending arms of the impaling menibers s. The result is shown in dotted lines will release sleeve s, which will be elevated into its initial position b spring s2, while the impaling members wi be thrown back to their initial positions by springs s3,- as shown Th 'great simplification in the machine, in that grip of the suction cup R- maybe readily disengaged from said cup.'

l Canreleased.

It will be understood that the twoforegoing constructions merely exemplify the means which may be employed to remove, the 70 cut-awaydportion of the cover from the can, to preclu e the depositing thereof in the. intemor of the can'after it is cut loose. Other forms of .this means may be Aemployed if desired. For example, a magnet might be em# ployedfof the' horse-shoe or any other type, in lieu of suction cu R. The present inventionlis not to be un erstood, therefore, as limited to the specific construction shown, as the means specified may be either mechanical, electrical, or automatic, in itsoperat/ion. pelled from the suction cup sol that atmos- -pheric pressure serves toimaintam the cup In the construction of the machine shown described, the cutter is automatically positioned relative to. the can to be operated upon, -and varying diameters in .the can construction will not in the least aii'ectthe automatic operation described. The automatic arrangement of the machinel is the 'form which it is preferred to employ, but the machine may be so organized, if desired, that the adjustment of the cutter-'head-may be manually, and not automatically, controlled by limiting member N. This bringsAabout a l y I i o the limiting member with its associated gear, the shaft N', and the carrier operatin rack yP, are dispensedwith.l Such modifie form of construction is shown in Figs-9, 10l andll.

The carrier t', which corresponds to car- 100i rier o', is slidably mounted on a rock-shaft t, which corresponds to the rock-shaft o.l In

lieu ofthe feather and slot connection, however, the shaft is square, as shown in Fig; 11, and fits` through a square passage in the car- 108 rier member. The uide member T of this modiied form is sow'n as a disk integral with the 'carrier t', while the cutter is designated by the reference character O. In lieu of the spring-impelled arm @associated 11@ with the rock-shaft, the rock-shaft t has mountedA thereon a weighted lever t2 which serves to normally maintainil'ie shaft in a position to commence the cutting operation by the cutter O. Theupper edge of lever t2 is so ,shaped that itengages with the under side of the cutter-head to limit the*l oscillating. movement of lthe rock-shaft in jeither direction, thereby serving the same function as the pin or stop g\ of the pre- 12@ -ferred'construction. in Fig.- 12, viz., the lower ends of the iinpaly The'carrier member t may be manually moved alon vthe rook-shaft t by means of'a frame t3 w ich is secured thereto. The frame reaches 'upwardly and over one sidel 125 ofthe cutter-head and carries a pointer or 5 finger t4 adapted to coperate with a scale t5 on which is preferably formed suitable designations corresponding to the various diameters or sizes of the cans. Thus, if a 139.

three inch can were placed in position for operation, the frame t is grasped in the hand of the operator and slid alongthe rockshaft and cutter-head into suchposition that the finger or pointer f4 will register withtlie designation on the scale corresponding to a I A-three inch diameter, and this operation will position the lcutter' and guide member in place for correct co-action with the can.

'l'.he cutting operation will be the same,aS-

hereinbefore described relative to the pre- :terred embodiment.

` 4- lt will, of course, be understood that in the i'modified form'of construction described, the

- ber.

ycutter-head is actuated from a twist-shaft.

M2 which automatically raises orlowers the cutter in accordance .withigthe direction of rotation of the operating crank.- ln Figs. l1

and 13 is shown the preferred manner 'oliv mounting the cutter 0 upon its carrier meme,

llt. is uite essential in the construe tion shown, t at the cutter be rigidly mounted on said carriage, but it is also desirable that the structure be such that a cutter may be :removedv and replaced without necessitating A parts of the machine. In the construction Shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the portion which carries the cutter is merely provided with a circular hole adapted to be passed over a shank. on the carrier member and locked in place by a jam nut. This structure necessitates the dismantling of the rock-shaft o to remove and replacethe cutter. However, in the construction shown in F1 .I 11, the

lcutter carrying member is in the s ape of a yoke o which may be slipped on from one side of. the carrier so as to embrace the portion' thereof intermediate its shoulder u and a jam nut U', as shown in igs. 1l and 13. The jam. nut may then be tightened t0 lock the cutter in place. rlhis 1s the preferred form' of construction .as no part need be dismantled to renew acutter, but simply a slight loosenin of the jam nut u is all that is require Having thus fully described the invenv tion, what we claim as new, and desire to ing the cut out portion of the can after the same has been cut-away from the body of said can.

2., lln a machine for opening cans., the combination of a rotatable table provided the dismantling' of the projecting' incassa with means-for gripping a can and holding it in position, a cutter-head for engaging-the top of the canto maintain the can in engagement with the table, a cutter mounted on the cutter-head and adapted to engage .with the top of thecan, means for simule taneously rotating the table and can, while the cutter is in engagement with the can,

for the purpose of cutting out the top of the can, and means mounted on the cutterhead, and rotatable with the can for precluding the cut-away portion ci theA can from falling into the body of the can upon the completion of the cutting operation.

.3. In a machine for opening cans, the

the body of the can at the completion ofthe cutting operation. 4f. A machine for opening cans embodyin a rotatable table, a concentrically rotata le operating plate positioned below, the table, clamping jaws associated with the table and operating 'plate andextending above the face of the former for engaging/a can in gripping relation when either` the table or plate are rotated, a cutter-head mounted for vertical movement above the table, and means for simultaneously rotating the actuating plate 'and imparting verticlemovement to the cutter-head, whereby the cutterhead maybe moved-into 'or out of engagement with the top of the can.

5. A machine for opening cans embodying a rotatable table, a concentric'ally rotatable operating plate positioned below thel table, clamping jaws associated with the `table 'and operating plate and extending above the face of the former for engaging a can in 'gripping relationwhen either the table or plate are r'otated, a cutter-headv mounted for vertical movement above the table, means for imparting rotation to the actuating plate, 'and connections between the actuating plate and thel cutter-head whereby rotation of the former imparts vertical movement to the latter.

6. ln a machine for opening cans, the combination of a rotatable operating plate,J means actuated thereby for grippinga can near its lower edge, means :tor operating the actuating plate, a cutter-head movable perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said plate, and connections between the plate and the cutter-head for imparting movement to the cutter-head when the plate is rotated,

whereby said cutter-head may -be movedinto and out of engagement with the top of the can in accoidance with the direction' of the rotation of the plate.

7. A machine for opening cansembody- I ing a rotatable table, a concentrically rotatable operating plate positioned below the 1 means for imparting rotationI to thel actuating plate, connections between the actuating plate and the cutter-head, whereby rotation of the former imparts Vertical 'movement tothe latter,l a cutter mounted on the cutter-head, and means actuated by the rotation of the operating Aplate for positioning the cutter in .proper relation to the can.

8'. In a machine for opening cans, the combination of a rotatable operating plate, means actuated thereby'M-for gripping -a can near its lower edge, means for operating the actuating plate, a cutter-head movable perpendicular to the axis of' rotation of said plate, connections between the plate and the cutter-head for` imparting movement to the cutter-head when the plate is rotated,

whereby said cutter-head may be moved into and out of engagcmentwith the top of the can in accordance with the direction of the rotation of the plate, a cutter mountedon the cutter-head and means actuated by therotation of the operating plate forpositioning the cutter in proper relation to the can.

9. In a machine for opening cans, the combination of a rotatable operating plate, means actuated thereby for gripping a can near its lower edge, means for operating the actuating plate, a cutter-head movable per- -f pendicular to the axis of rotation of said plate, connections between the plate and the cutter-head for imparting movement to the cutter-head when,the platev is rotated, whereby said cutter-head may be moved into and out of engagement with the top of the can'in accordance With the direction of the rotation of the plate, a cutter mounted on the cutter-head, means actuated by the rotation of the operating plate for position ing the cutter in proper relation to the can, and means adapted to engage with the side of the can for restricting the movements of the cutter by the operating plate to such yextent as to position the cutter in proper operating position for the particular size Of can on the machine.

10. In a machine for opening cans, the combination of av rotatable table provided with means for gripping a can and holding it in position, a cutter positioned above the table for engagement with the top of the can,` means for rotating the table, while the cutter is in engagement with the can, for cutting out they top of the can, means independent of the cutter for removingthe cut out portion of the can after the saine hasV ally mounted for back and forth oscillation on the cutter-head, means for normally maintaining the cutter in an inclined direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the can, said means being adapted to allow of the oscillation of the cutter inthe direction of rotation of the can when the latter isl rotated, whereby the cutter is forced through the Wall of the can, and means Afor arresting the pivotal movement of the cutter after it has been forced throughthe can Wall, andfor maintaining it stationary during the subsequent cutting operation.

12. In a machine for opening cans, the combination of means for gripping and rotating a can, a cutter-head, a cutter mounted v for edgewise oscillation on the cutter-head, means'for normally maintaining the cutter in an inclined direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the can, and stop means for limiting the oscillation of the cutter in the opposite direction, whereby,` when the f against oscillation during the subsequent operation of cutting the can. Y

18. In a machine for opening cans, the combination of means for rotating a can, a cutter mounted for oscillation, means for normally maintaining the cutter in an Yin- 1 clined direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the can, and means for-bringing the cutter into engagement with the can while in said inclined position, whereby subsequent rotation of the can oscillates the ut- `ter and forces the same through the wall of the can, said cutter being thereafter main-Y tained against further oscillation uring the subsequent operationof cutting the can.

14. A machine for opening cans embodying means for gripping a can, means for rotating said can, a cutter, mechanism for shifting the cutter radially of the axis of rotation of the can, connections between the cutter-shifting mechanism and the can-rotating means for actuating the former from the latter, and means for bodilyv moving the cutter ina direction parallel tothe axis of rotation of the can. l

1 5. A machine for opening cans embodyingy a rotatable table, means for'securing a can thereon, a cutter movable perpendicu# larly to the axis of rotationof the table, means for rotating the table, and means operable by the table rotating means for imparting movement to the cutter in a direcl gaged with the can.

- mally elevated above thel top Ation perpendicula'rto the axis of rotation-of `the table when said 'table isfrotated.

16. In a machine for opening cans, the

combination of a rotatable table, means for securing a can thereon,'a cutter-head movable perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the table, means for simultaneously rotating the table and moving the' cutter-head into engagement with the can positioned thereon, andfmeans for rendering the cutterhead irresponsive to the operations of the table rotating means after said head has en- 17. In a machlne for ,openings cans, the

combination of a rotatable table, means-for securing acan thereon, means for rotating4 the table', a cutter-head mounted for sliding lmovement longitudinally of the axis of rotation of the table, connections between the table rotating means and the cutter-head for bringing said cutter-head into engagement with the can" when the table is rotated, said -connections embodying means whereby the cutter-head is rendered irresponsive to the operations of the table rotating means when said cutter-head is in engagement with the can;

18. In a machine for opening cans, the cognbination of a rotatable table, means for securing a can thereon, means for rotating the table, a cutter-head mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the axis of rota-x tion of the table, connections between the table rotating means and the cutter-head for bringingsaid cutter-head into engagement with the can when the table is rotated, said `connections embodying la friction clutch whereby the cutter-head is renderedirresponsive to the operations of the table rotating means when said cutter-head isin engagement with thecan.

19. A machine for opening cans, the combination of a substantially horizontal rotatable table, means for securing a can thereon, means for rotating the table, a

, cutter-head mounted for vertical movement above the table, said cutter-head being nor- `and connections between the cutter-head and table rotating means, whereby the rotation of the table causes the cutter-head to be lowered into engagement with the top of the can for steadylnglthe same during the cutting operation.

20. A machine for opening cans, the com- ,bination of a substantially horizontal ro-I of the can,

incanta tableis rotated, for the purpose of steady- Ling the can during the cutting operation.

2l. In a machine for opening cans, the combination of a rotatable table, means for securing the can in upright position on.

the table, means for rotating the table,\a cutter-head mounted for movement toward and. away from the table, a cutter-mounted on the cutter-head, and meansA associated with the table rotating means for automatically lowering the cutter-head intol engagement withA the can, when the table rotating means is actuated, and simultaneously shifting the cutter, radially of the can, 'into propercutting relation to the can. v 22.` ln a .machine for opening cans, the combination of a rotatable` table, means for securing a can on the table, means for rotating the table, a cutter-head movable longitudinally of thev axis of rotation of the table, a cutter mounted on the cutter-head and movable radially of the axis of rotation of the table,` and means operated by the table rotating means for lowering the cutterhead into engagement with the top'of the canand shifting the cutter radially of the can into proper cutting position.

.23. In a machine for opening cans, the

combination of a rotatable table, means' for' securing a can on the table, means for rotating thetable, a cutter-head movable lon-l gitudinally of the axis of rotation-of the table, a cutter mounted on the cutter-head and movable radially of the axis of rotation of the table, means operated by the table rotating means for lowering the cutter-head'into engagement with the top of the canY and shifting the cutter radially of the can into l proper cutting position, and means for precluding over-travel of the cutter radially of the can. l

24. in -"a' machine for opening cans, the combination of a rotatable table, means .for securing a can on the table, means for rotating the table, a cutter-head movable longitudinally of the axis of rotation of the table, a cutter mounted on the cutter-head and movable radially of the axis of rotation of the table, means operated by the table rotating means for lowering the cutterhead into engagement with the top of the can and shifting the cutter radially of the can into proper cutting position, and means adapted for engagement with the can for precluding over-travel of the cutter radially of the can.

25. lin a machine for opening cans, the

,combination of a rotatable table, means for securing a can on the table, means for rotatin-g the table, a cutter-head movable longitudinally of the axis of rotation of the table, a cutter mounted on the 'cutter-head and movable radially of the axis of rotation of the table, means operated by the table rotating means for lowering the' cutwt Y ist;

message ter-head into engagement with the top of the can and shifting the cutter radially of the can into proper cutting position, means for recluding over-travel o the cutter radial y of the can, and means for rendering the cutter-head and cutter irresponsive to said operations of the table rotating means during the cutting operation.

26.- Ina machine for opening cans, the

combination of a'table provided with a plurality of substantially volute slots, a plurality of levers pivoted to said table and provided with'clamping jaws mounted on said levers and extending through -the slots in the table and above the surface thereof, an operating plate mounted for rotation coaxially with the table and immediately beneath the same, said plate being iprovided with a plurality of` substantially volute channels, trunnions mounted on said levers and extending into the volute channels of the' operating plate, whereby relativerotation etween the plate and table impart movement to the clamping jaws toward and away from the axis of rotation, corresponding to the direction of rotation.

,the o erating plate, whereby relative rotationA etween the plate and ltable impart movement to the clamv ing jaws toward and away :from the axis o rotation, corresponding to the direction of rotation, and means coperating with the plate for rotating the same. Y

28. A, machine for opening cans, the combination of a table provided with a pluralit 'of substantially volute slots, a lurality oty levers pivoted to vsaid table, c am ing jaws mounted onA the levers and exten g through the slots in the table, an operating plate mounted for coaxial rotation relative Yformed thereon a plurality of substantie y -voluteguides,'a,.

to the table Aand ha plurality of trunnions mounted on each lever and extending into coperative relationwithA a plurality of substantially volute guides on the operatmg table, whereby jaws mounted on the levers and extending tive rotation between the table and plate pivotally move said levers to bring the clamping jaws into contracted or expanded relation to one another, corresponding to the direction of rotation.-

29. A machine for opening cans, the com bination of a table provided with a pluralitly of substantially volute slots, a plurality o levers pivoted to said table, clamping jaws mounted on the levers and extending through the slots in the table, an operating plate mounted for coaxial rotation .relative to the table and having formed thereon al l plurality of substantially volute guides, a

plurality of trunnions mounted on each le- -ver and extending into coperative relation with aplurality of substantially volute guides on the operating table, whereby relative rotation between the table and plate l pivotally move said levers to bring the clamping .jaws into contracted or expanded relation to one another, corresponding to the direction of rotation, and means for rotating the operating plate.

30. A machine for openin cans, the combination of a table provide with a pluralof substantially volute slots, a plurality levers pivoted to said table, c amping through the slots in the table, an operating plate mounted for lcoaxial rotation relative to the table and havin formed thereon a plurality of substantie y volute guides, a plurality of trunnions mounted oneach lever and extending into coperative relation with a plurality of substantially volute guides on the operating table, the contour of said guides conformlng substantially to volutes swung on a smaller radius than volutes which form the contour of the slots' in the table. Y

31. In a machine for opening cans, thev combination of, means for cutting out a portion of the can, a plurality of nnpaling members adapted to be thrust through the portion of the can to be cut away previous to the cutt' operation, and m :s for spreading sai impaling members to prevent their withdrawal from the cut-out por.- tion of the can subsequent to the cutting operation, Whereby the vcut-out portion is prevented from falling into the body of the tot can Aat the completion'o the cutting'l operation.

In testimony'wh'ereof we have signed our names to t specification; 

